University of Alabama football coach Nick Saban has hoisted the crystal football emblematic of the national championship in three of the last four seasons at Alabama.

Written by

DAVID JONES
Florida Today

MELBOURNE, Fla. -- University of Florida football coach Will Muschamp doesn't even try to pretend that he hasn't patterned his football philosophy around much of what he learned from Alabama's Nick Saban while an assistant in both the college and NFL levels.

And why not? Alabama has won national titles by focusing a lot on being physical, pounding the ball down other teams' throats when possible. Muschamp tried that his first season in 2011, and finished 7-6. Last year, with Tim Davis arriving as the offensive line coach, he made a second attempt. This time, the Florida Gators went 11-2.